Denman Bryant Langford

On November 30, 2013, Denman Bryant Langford, one of the Lord’s remarkable servants, age 82, was called home after a courageous and lengthy battle with his health. Known as Bryant, he was born in Whitehouse, Texas, on May 10, 1931, to Mattie Mayo Bryant and Allen Senter Langford. Bryant grew up in Whitehouse, attended Whitehouse High School, and then graduated from Tyler High School in 1948. He attended East Texas State University, earning a B.S. degree, and an M.S. in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. Bryant and his wife, Ann, were married August 26, 1955, and shared 58 years of marriage together. Bryant worked in the T.I.S.D. for seven years. In 1960 he established his business, Langford Builders Supply. He sold this business 19 years later and opened Langford Wholesale Lumber Inc. In his more than 50 years in the lumber industry, Bryant worked with W.I.S.D. Co-op, hiring many young students who were starting work for their first time. He took a sabbatical from the lumber business in 2000, reopening again in 2008. Bryant put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when he was a young man. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for over 50 years. Throughout his life, Bryant gave to others, whether it was for family or someone who needed friendship or help. He loved the Lord and tried never to miss an opportunity to tell others about Him. He was a member of the congregation of Mount Carmel Baptist Church and a follower of the Baptist faith throughout his life. The song “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” always spoke to him in a positive way because Christ was his “bridge”. Bryant loved sports! He lettered in basketball and pitched in minor league baseball for three years before being drafted into the Army from 1953-55. He loved watching his favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. He also loved to fish and to hunt, especially quail. Bryant was a 32nd Degree Mason with a life membership in the Whitehouse Lodge. He was involved in the organization of the First National Bank of Whitehouse and served on the board of directors at First National Bank, Austin Bank, Cherokee County Electric Co-op and Stewart Family Funeral Home. In 2009, Whitehouse honored he and his wife by naming them Mr. and Mrs. Yesteryear. Bryant courageously fought many health problems over the last twenty-three years. He survived two heart bypass surgeries and in 1991 received a heart transplant, giving him a second chance at life. He enjoyed good health and a full life for many years, after which came the challenge of three cancer surgeries. He was again blessed and experienced a renewed compassion for his fellow man, sharing their cares and concerns. He supported his church and his favorite charities, St. Jude’s Children Hospital and Hospice of East Texas. He often said he could not give anything away because God always returned it to him, with a bonus. Bryant is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Virginia Turman, and two brothers, Joe and Allen Langford. He is survived by his wife, Ann Langford of Whitehouse; his sister, Eleanor Love Langford Luther of Tyler; his children, Dr. Ginga Ann Langford of Dallas, Dr. Teri Elizabeth Langford and her partner Nancy Keeney of Carrollton, David Bryant Langford of Dallas, Tulisha Louise Langford Buchanan and her husband, Dr. Sam Buchanan of Fort Worth; and two grandchildren, Stephen Bryant Buchanan of Auburn, Alabama; and Lillian Ann Elyse Buchanan of Fort Worth. He also is survived by his nephews, Paul Manuel Turman II, Will Allen Turman, David Sidney Turman and William Ray Luther, all of Tyler; and his nieces, Suzanne Langford Cowper of Austin; Janet Clare Langford DiOrio of Pine Hill, New Jersey; and Susan Love Luther of Fort Worth. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Stewart Family Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Benny Portwood and Rev. Sherman Mayfield officiating. Burial will follow at Whitehouse Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, December 2, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. Serving as pallbearers will be Paul Turman, Will Turman, David Turman, Bill Luther, John Williams, Doug Dotson, Melvin Tomlin and Mike Glover. Honorary pallbearers are Kenneth Stanley, Royce Cheatham, Jose Carrillo, Jessie Rodriguez, Morris Gary, Steve Jackson, Charlie Jones, Bobby Smith, Melvin Scroggins, R. V. Rogers, Terry Hanks, Bobby Coker. Jimmy Murphy and Rick Taylor Bryant asked to convey, “My unending appreciation to Betty and Kenneth Stanley for always being there for me during good times and in times of crisis.” He also wished to recognize all those who influenced his life including his mother and father, Louise and Edgar Morrow, Dolly Morrow, Douglas Brown, James Lilly, George “Snookie” Torbet, Bill Kee, Glendal Pike, Jo Nell Samford, Dr. Joe Jones, R.V. Rogers and all his many friends. Mr. Langford’s family would like thank those caregivers who gave him such loving care in the last years of his life, Eulanda Barron, Katrina Smith, Theresa Rains, and Kay Brown. Memorials in honor of Bryant Langford may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Building Fund, 10519 FM 344 E, Whitehouse, 75791.

Denman Bryant Langford

May 10, 1931 - November 30, 2013